Pablo Pérez Laguna – Del Sur News, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

On May 25th, the local Cabinet of Citizen Power, Fundación Centro Empresarial Pellas and about 150 residents from the community of Tortuga (located 32 km south from the town of SJdS) participated in a cleanup project of the La Flor River basin area. Community members of all ages collected plastic, aluminum and other waste. María José Alanís, Assistant Project Manager of the South Triangle Tourism Project said; “Centro Empresarial Pellas supports this and many other community initiatives around the Municipality of San Juan del Sur because it prevents the waste entering the ocean and polluting the environment”. Resident Carlos Antonio Bustos said “The clean-up prevents disease being spread between the families of the town”.

Rivas Celebrates it’s 292th Anniversary

Rivas was originally named “Valley of Nicaragua” (Valle de Nicaragua) until, on the 29th of May, 1720, one of its main settlements was named “Villa of the Pure and Clean Conception of Rivas” (Villa de la Pura y Limpia Concepción de Rivas) after Captain General Francisco Rodríguez de Rivas, who at the time was President of the Audiencia and Captain General of Guatemala. The Department of Rivas was formed in 1858 and the town became known simply as Rivas.

New Real Estate Development for Rivas

Last week, on May 25th, LOTINICA formally opened its new development in the Municipality of Rivas which is located about 2,000 meters north of the urban area in the community known as Rosario at kilometer marker 108 on the Pan American Highway. This development will have fully serviced lots with electricity, water and security said Ana Alvarez, a LOTINICA team member. Alvarez said the development is called ‘Marsella’ and is their third project in the department of Rivas. She said the goal is to promote housing construction in the area and offer Rivenses lots on easy terms. “The development has met all the legal requirements for the security of home ownership as well as including the installation of its own water system, landscaping and the installation of the electrical systems” said Ana Alvares.

Rivas University Community Protests IMF Proposals

Over 1,500 students spoke out last May 23rd at a demonstration in the main streets of the town of Rivas. They were against the tax policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who are pressing Central Government to reform the constitutional six percent funding law and the Social Security Act. The group, organized by the University Student Federation (UNEN) wants the IMF to respect the sovereignty of Nicaragua and the rights that the students have acquired with this government. One student, Marina Mena said that she is against social security reforms proposes by the IMF as her generation would work longer and never achieve their retirement. Guillermo Zuluaga, a UNEN Representative from Rivas, spoke against the proposal to change the constitutional allocation of 6% for University Education and also expressed the rejection of changes to the Social Security Act. Professor Francisco Mejía from the International School of Agriculture and Livestock of Rivas (EIAG) said that the suspension of allocations that are made through the 6% law would be a disaster for the student community and for employees of the universities. Leonel Castellón, a UPOLI Pprofessor said it is unfair to reform the social security law, likewise referred to the tax reforms for the most vulnerable, explained that Nicaragua should be working towards a more just and equitable society.

New Rivas Police Chief

On May 22nd, the new National Police Chief of Rivas was officially presented to Rivas at a ceremony attended by Amílcar Aguilar – FSLN Political Secretary to Rivas, Wilfredo López – Mayor of Rivas, representatives of the Evangelical and Catholic Churches, institutional delegates from the area and Mayors from the entire Department of Rivas. High Commissioner Dora Isabel Galeano, who was the Department Head for 2 years and three months, gave an account of the police activity during her tenure before introducing her successor. The new Department Head, High Commissioner Sergio Gutiérrez Espinoza said he would continue the work on the citizen participation model, maintain the levels of coordination with the churches, institutions and mayors.

Another Death on the SJdS – La Virgin Road

José del Carmen Rivera, 48 years old, a native of the community of Capulín (13 kms east of SJdS), was killed on the 21st of May while riding his bicycle from east to west in front of the Capulín School. According to witnesses, he was hit by a Hyundai Taxi with a plate number RI 284 plate driven by the suspect in this case; José Gregorio Bonilla Díaz who it is alleged was travelling from San Juan del Sur to La Virgin. Commissioner Justo Zamora the SJdS Police Chief, the Medical Examiner Dr. Luis Ocampo determined that the cause that led to the unfortunate death was Hypovolemic or Hemorrhagic Shock caused by injuries suffered during the collision. He put the time of death as between 3:30 and 4:00 am on Tuesday May 22nd. The Head of Traffic, Commissioner Roberto Gaitán Hodson said that the case has been finalized and that they only need to catch the taxi driver. Martha Elizabeth Chávez, 45 years, wife of the deceased, said that Rivera left four orphaned children (two boys and two girls). She urged the police authorities to pursue this case so that this death does not go unpunished. Relatives said that Rivera was on the way back from a vigil (vela) of a resident of Genicero, 2 kilometers east of Capulín.

National Police Drug Bust – Peñas Blancas Border

On Thursday May 24th, a truck with an El Salvador plate # C73083, driven by 30 year old Pedro Edgardo Vásquez Acevedo was found to contain 15 packages hidden in a compartment in the upper part of the truck doors. Those packages contained a total of 30 smaller rectangular packages and a field test proved positive for cocaine. The total weight was over 33 kilos. The truck was carrying a cargo of empty glass containers and originated from Vasos de Vidrios Panameños S.A., a Panamanian business with a destination El Salvador. The driver will face charges of international drug transport.